Apparatus for taking observations from a submarine vessel.



No. 867,982. ATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

. s.'LAKE. APPARATU$ FOR TAKING OBSERVATIONS FROM A SUBMARINE VESSEL;

APPLICATION FILED APILM, 1906.

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"s. LAKE.

APPARATUS FOR TAKING OBSERVATIONS FROM A ,SUBMARINBVESSBL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1906.

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sIMoN LAKE, or BERLlN, GERMANY.

APPARA'XU FOR TAKIlIiG OBSERVATXONQ: FROM A SUBMhB/INE VESSEL.-

rvo. senses.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, a. citizen of the taking observations from a submarine vessel, and to an.

improved system of installation of periscopespmniscopes end like observing instruments used in submarine -vessols for enabling the 'oliserver to see. what is transpiring above thesurioce oitho water while the vessel is soloniergcd.

The invention consists of a sighting tube adapted-to be projected above the water from a submerged vessel and to be withdrawn. into the vessel as desired, and z'nounted in such way its to he turned around at pleasure so that the location of an object having been noted, the vessel may be steered in any direction, with respect to such object, and the sighting tube turned to face the object and their projected and again withdrawn without loss of time and at a minimum risk ofdetection.

in the accompanying drawings which illustrate the.

invention Figure 1 showsoin vertical section the conning tower and part of a submarine boa-t equipped with a. periscope embodying my improvements, the conning tower heing submerged while. observations are being taken through the periscop'e the sighting tube oi which is elevated above the sari-ace of the water. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the automatic closing valve and stuiliuig box located at the top of the conning tower. Fig. is an enlarged sectional view of the lower end oi the sighting tube and the upper end of the carryor guiding cylinder. Fig. 3" a section of a port oi theguiding cylinder through the line x y of 3. Fig. 4- is a sectional view of the lowe end of the guiding cylinder mounted on a base provided with ball bearings.

As shownv in said drawings, it is e. sighting tube shown elevated in Fig. l, asoYQresairFl, so thet the upper lenses are above the surface of the water. This tulich is provided with the usual lenses and is oi uniform. diameter and is fitted w ith a rounded or conic; at the top; the construction being such that the tube will. readily s throu 'h the smiling; hon C as shown in Fig. 2. This stutiing box is fitted. with packing ii 2' of tiny wclhlcno'wn ctmstruotioii, which serve to prevent water from penetrating into the interior oi the be;

(i is a hydraulic cylinder with a nine 9 leading to the elevating cylinder l3.

ll is on air cylinder the piston of which connected Lu the piston of the hydraulic cylinder G by nicsiis of a common piston rod. The air supply is received from an air reservoir 11 which may be located at any con vcguicnt part of the boat.

'lhc stuffing box and guide niece C- is provided at its :Specification of Letters Patent. Application fileclilpril 27, 1906. Elezial No. 8l3,9l7.

merit t8 will be understood.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

upper end with a lisp valve M which valve is norrnally held-to its seat by the coil spring in.

' In Fig. 2 the instrument is shown in dotted lines in two positions. In theuppe'r positionflesignhted 2 the instrument is shown with the lenses pointing forward (as shown in position 1 in Fig. 1.) In the lower position indicated by the numeral 3 the instrument is represented as rotated one quarter turn so that the objective lenses are seen in front elevation. c is the lower portion of the stuffing ho); arid-guide also fitted with packing rings. L is the pet cock of the drain pipe. I I V is an air relief pet cock.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4., B represents the guiding:

cylinder. bl is the cylinder head provided with packing rings 6 through which the sighting tube A pgisses." n is a piston screwed on the lower end ofthe sighting tube A. This piston a is provided with a cup leather packing ring held in place by the disk d. {1 is a feather secured to the piston a and designed to maintain the tube A alineinent when the same is elevated or depressed, this feather traveling in a lrey way extending the iluil length of the cylinder B as shown'at (L The cylinderhead b carriesthe eye-piece b fitted with suitable lenses. An opening is provided in the tube A so that the reflecting prism P may be oppositethe eye piece b in line with the same when the sighting tube A is at its highest point of elevation. I

Referring to Fi 4 the lower end of the cylinder B is formed with an external flange q and is carried in the base piece E. g is a ring which liolds'in place the cup leather packing ring Q2. e is a cap which forms it been ing to carry the cylinder. B. Ball bearings are preferably located as shown iIlQtWuGTl the flange q and the cap e and the clamping ring a which arrangement holds the cylinder in place hoth. to upward or downward move- F is an air valve which may be of well known construction. f 2 is the air pipe leading to one end oi the cylinder H.

p pe loading to the other part of the cylinder and r? 1.. the relief from the corresponding 0nd of the cylinder.

1" represents a relietfrom the sameend of the cylinder H. i f is the The construction of the valve 1? is such'that when is odmittod irom the reservoir H, through the pipe f to the pipe f the exhaust from the other end of the cylilider ll. takes place through 1" and when :zif'isad-- mitt .l to 1 pipe-f the exhaust from the opposite end takes plo .ln-ougli t. D is s, case containing a crank arm d which serves to reciprocate the sliding piece or hell d. When the said sliding piece (1 is pushed forfol into the r.:yli.nder by the crank actiom as is shown in dotted lines, it forms a stop which prevents the tube A. being \vitlidrttwn further than position No. 2 a ov referred to. When the sliding piece is Withdrawn int" the casing 1) its inner face coincides with "10 Form of the cylinder and permits the passage of the gin-stun u.

Th 0 operation is as iollr iws :.-Assu n u for thc yo i ose shown in position No. l.

. again and the opening in of illustration that the boat is intending to make an attack upon another ship. The boat is running along with the observing, instrument above the surf-nee, as The enemy is sighted and it is desired to Withdraw the instrument entirely below the surface of the Water so as to prevent any wake or disturbance of the water which would betray the pres ence of the submarine. The handle controlling the valve Fis now turned to the proper position and air is admitted into the on d of the air-cylinder H next to the hydraulic cylinder G, and the hydraulic piston, shown in dotted lines, is thereby caused to travel to the opposite end of the cylinder G, which withdraws the by drnulic fluid from beneath the piston a and tends to create a vacuum below said piston so that the sighting tube is consequently withdrawn into position No. 2, whereupon the valve M immediately closes and seals the upper end of the guide piece 0. The direction of the enemy having been first ascertained, the submarine may now be put on acourse designed to intercept the enemy, still maintaining the same depth of submev gence. It is now possible to take instant observations from time to time without exposing anything above the surface except for a brief moment. When it is desired to take an observation the instrument is first pointed in the direction in which the enemy is known to be. The observer puts his eye to the eye: 'ece and turns the handle of the valve F whereiuion a stroke oi the air piston in the cylinder H acting through the medium of the hydraulic fluid passing through the pipe g shoots the observing instrument above the surface the tube A is brought opposite the eye piece so that vision is secured. A turn of the valve F again withdraws the instrument as previously described.

From experiments it is found practical to take an observation during the brief interval of one second. The rapidity with which the sighting tube may be elevated or depressed d pemls'upon the power available and the size of the pipe: g. This pipe 9 is provided with it throttlingyalveg whereby the speed of flow of hydratilic fluid may be regulated. I

If the objective glasses become dirty or clouded from the dryinfjot salt spray on the surface of the some or from any other eause and it is desired to elf-uh 1h em, the sliding pieced is withdrmvn into the case ll and the sighting tube A, is withdrawn to the position No. 3 as shown 1, l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l -ve.s.;cl when submerged. comprisingserene in Fig. 2. This brings the objective glass inside the conning tower where the surface of the lens only, of course, be readily cleaned.

it it is desired to remove the sighting tube A for repairs or to replace it by another the the base of the cylinder carrier base ll is removed and the tube may be entircly \vithdruwln While I have described in the foregoing V specification the construetionof parts preferred l mu :uvnrc thut numerous chamrcs of construction and opcrutiou may be made without departing from the spirit of lllc in vention, and I, therefore, do not wish myself to be understood as limiting myself by the positive terms employed in commotion with the do rription, excepting such as the state of the art may require.

Having now described my invention \vlutt l claim and desire to secure by Letters Putcnt of the United States isz- 1. Apparatus for taking: observot'lons from n subnmriue vessel when :nilnner zcd, comprising :1 slghtlng tulle, menus to project it into the held of vislon and to withdraw lt wholly therefrom, including :1 cylinder mounted upon :mtifriction bearings and capable of helm: rotated so us to bring the sighting tube in conformity to the course of the vessel with relation t the sighted object.

2. Apparatus for lulu'ne; observations from subunit-inc n sighting tulnm ans to project it into the field of vision and to withdraw it wholly therefrom, including :1 cylinder, in which said sighting tube is slidnblc lone'ltinllhully and held nnuiusl independent rotary movement. snhl cylinder mounted move rotntnbly.

12. Apparatus for tnltilu, obscrvuthms from n subnnu'luc vessel when sulnnergcd, comprising :1 siu'hthn! tube, b drnulic uppurutus to project it into the hold ot \lsiou :llHl to Withdraw it wholly therefrom, including :1 rotatable finder by which the sighting tube is curried und in \\.iich it has on independent right llne up and down mow ment, and menus to rcstrrin the slehtine tube from indupendem ro ution in said cylinder, the rotation of the cylinder serving to turn the sighting tubt in the direction of the object sought.

l. A periscope having a power cyllhder, :l bnso for said power cylinder in which the cyllnder is mounted hold tight,' nu antlfrlctlon bearing connecting the cylinder and its base and admitting of the rotation of the cylinder ln the base and a sighting tube mounted in the ey finder and retained therein against independent rotnry movcnn-nt.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subncrlhing wltnesscs.

SIMON LAKE.

Witnesses lVULDHMAU lLinr'r Unxuv ASPEN.

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